Research Officer, NOB (Fixed Term), New Delhi (Post no. 118304) - This vacancy is open for Indian Nationals only

Contract

This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up!

Click here to learn more about UNICEF: https://youtu.be/43aiG4w2q_M

For Every Child, AN ADVOCATE:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world's thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference.

Under the general guidance of Chief Health and direct supervision of Health Specialist, NO-3, the Research Officer will provide technical and operational support to facilitate and support the overall planning, design, and implementation of the country office Plan for Research, Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME) for health section, where appropriate across State offices, between agencies and with national and international stakeholders and collaborators.

The Research Officer is responsible for contributing to the design and effective conduct and uptake of evaluations, social data monitoring, and research in accordance with UNICEF mission, guiding principles, standards, commitments, regulatory framework (including policies, procedures and guidance), as well as professional norms and standards.

Major duties and responsibilities:

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Plan for Research and Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation (PRIME)

Ensure that the Health program and national partners use a well-prioritized and realistic plan of research, monitoring and evaluation activities that will provide the most relevant and strategic information to manage the Country Programme toward achieving expected results and towards coping with potential and actual emergencies.

Duties & Tasks:

• Prepare PRIME submissions and support states to regularly track progress and report to senior management. Enhance the culture of evidence generation and use and make professional contributions to and provide technical assistance for the planning and establishing of major research, monitoring and evaluation objectives, priorities, and activities in UNICEF’s multi-year and annual PRIME exercises.
• Support the development of health M&E and R (Monitoring & Evaluation and Research) Plans.
• Identify the M&E and R objectives, priorities, and activities required for effective CO (Country Office) and partner Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans. In humanitarian response situations, adjust the prevailing health PRIME submission plan in accordance with M&E&R guidance for emergency situations. Likewise, adjust the PRIME in accordance with the transition through the stages of transition and recovery.
• Identify gaps in knowledge and work with sector specialists and officers to ensure these are addressed in planned evidence activities. Facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration in research and data collection activities.
• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary in the context of the multi-year and annual PRIMEs and associated office-wide management plans and work plans.
• Consolidate E&R plans within required systems and documentation, Monitor progress and support CMT (Country Management Team), AR (Annual Report), MTR (Mid Term Review) and other review moments that lead to plan revisions. Provide input to management reports, including relevant sections of the annual reports.

2. Evaluation

Ensure that UNICEF-supported evaluations are designed and implemented to established UN (United Nations) quality standards, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning.

Duty and tasks:

• Help guide the Health program and partners to identify priority evaluation topics in accordance with the coverage guidelines of the UNICEF Evaluation Policy, and in accordance with the commitments contained in UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and in the agreed country programme.
• Support development of national health policy or policies (e.g., by sector) on evaluation by public, civil, and private partners. Support country-led health evaluations of policies and programmes and the consideration of the results by partners. These country-led multi state exercises may examine aspects of the UNICEF-government health programme of cooperation or may look at entirely national efforts.
• For health led or supported evaluations, guide programme specialists and programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference and evaluation designs of high quality. Manage the recruitment of appropriate and highly qualified consultants.
• Support the overall day-to-day management as the designated Evaluation Manager on evaluations in collaboration with programme specialists and partners.
• Coordinate the external review of key deliverables according to the Standard Operating Procedure of the office, by engaging an Evaluation Reference Group, an external review agency and colleagues in the regional office.

3. Research

Ensure that UNICEF-supported research is designed and implemented according to established UNICEF policies and procedures, and the results are disseminated in a timely fashion to stakeholders in order to improve programme performance and contribute to wider learning

Duty and tasks:

• Facilitate research quality assure processes at the CO level in accordance with the UNICEF Policy on Research with focus on emerging field in health. Ensure that the Standard Operating Procedures outline the quality assurance process for research and that checklists, guidance and other tools are available to research project managers from all sectors.
• Technically support UNICEF programme specialists and programme partners to formulate Terms of Reference for high quality research projects.
• Review the Terms of Reference for upcoming major research projects and drafts of research reports.
• Assist with the peer review process of major research projects and coordinate feedback to Supervisor/CMT/stakeholders to ensure quality and compliance with the UNICEF Policy on Research and country office research priorities.
• Assist with the recruitment and selection of appropriately qualified research consultants, ensuring that the selection process is in compliance with UNICEF standards for performance, accountability, transparency and ethics.
• Assist research project managers from all sectors with the development of a multi-method communication plan to disseminate research findings to intended audiences via user-friendly methods.
• As part of Country Office Reporting, upload completed research reports to the global Evaluation and Research Database to allow global sharing and final quality review.
• Ensure all research follows the ethical principles and standards outlined in the UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis.

4. Evaluation and Research Capacity Building

Ensure that the monitoring and evaluation capacities of Country Office staff and national partners – government and civil society – are strengthened enabling them to increasingly engage in and lead monitoring and evaluation processes.

Duties & Tasks:

• Promote the awareness and understanding of the shared responsibility of M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation) function among all staff members through communication, training, learning and development activities organization wide.
• In close collaboration with partners, ensure that an M&E capacity building strategy for UNICEF/UN staff national partners and institutions exists in the context of the PRIME or UNDAF (United Nations Development Assistance Framework) M&E plan. Pay attention so the capacity needs of national partners such as professional evaluation associations will be strengthened by involvement in evaluation processes and possibly through specific capacity building initiatives.
• Collaborate to implement capacity building strategies as a joint commitment with other developmental partners. Utilize a range of appropriate skills building strategies including self-learning, seminars and workshops and practical experience in order that UNICEF and UN staff have the basic knowledge and skills in understanding and applying new M&E policies, tools, methods to fulfil their responsibilities. Similarly, design and implement strategies suited to the skills needs of national partners.
• Actively seek partnerships with knowledge institutions for the identification of capacity gaps and development of strategies to address them.

5. Coordination, Networking and Knowledge Management

Ensure that the UNICEF office is effectively linked to wider UNICEF Evaluation and Evidence developments in a way that both contributes to and benefits from organizational learning on effective delivery of results for children

Duties & Tasks:

• Collaborate with Regional Programme Planning, Evaluation & Research Advisers and HQ Evaluation Office for overall coordination of priority research, monitoring, evaluation and research activities, especially those of regional scope requiring the coordinated effort of multiple countries.
• Partner with the Regional Advisers to ensure that current and accurate evidence are included in regional reports, multi-country studies, and knowledge sharing networks.
• Undertake lessons-learned reviews on successful and unsuccessful evaluation and research practices and experience at the national level, and ensure they are shared as appropriate. Similarly, pay attention to knowledge networks to identify innovations and lessons learned that may be relevant for the CO and partners to improve their evaluation and research function.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• University degree in health, statistics, planning development, planning or relevant field.
• A minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience in programme development and implementation including monitoring, research and evaluation activities.
• Experience in field work in the area of research, programme implementation or monitoring & evaluation is required.
• At least one instance of exposure to emergency programming, including preparedness planning will be an asset. Active involvement in a humanitarian crisis response programme is an asset.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge of local working language of the duty station or another UN language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values (Required)

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Competency Areas

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

View our competency framework here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

• This VA is open for Indian nationals.
• This position is based in New Delhi (India).
• Selected applicant will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance, organizational needs and availability of funding.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a non-smoking working environment.

For more information about UNICEF India, please refer to the link below: - https://www.unicef.org/india/

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